Allagash Curieux was the first foray into barrel aging. Curieux is made by aging our Tripel Ale in Jim Beam bourbon barrels for eight weeks in our cold cellars. The aged beer is then blended back with a portion of fresh Tripel. The resulting beer is soft with coconut and vanilla notes, with hints of bourbon.

Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by jxb345:

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4.99/5 rDev +16.6%

One of the nicer things done in a bourbon barrel in a very long time. Nose: light fruit, hint of caramel, vanilla, light malts. spiceHazy straw to gold under a quickly dissipating yet clingy and easy roused 1" foam cap with a very fine bead.A yeast driven palate beginning with caramel, melon, banana, light fruit, vanilla, a hint of bourbon, a little nuttiness and a faint touch of pepper and a suggestion of hops. The beer shows astounding balance of flavor between the layers of malt, yeast, bourbon barrel and alcohol flavors. The alcohol is stealthy - a slight warming announces its presence but there are no harsh, hot or solventy flavors to betray its presence. The body is just below medium and the carbonation is above average but not harsh or carbonic.Le petit Jésus en culotte de velours

A: A golden beer with an orange hue and moderate haze. The white head is a mix of mostly compact bubbles with a few larger soapy bubbles mixed in. It leaves a fine lacing on the glass.

S: A medium-strong orange aroma with medium-light black pepper note and a light malt sweetness. The oak brings medium aromas of vanilla and coconut notes with a subtle whisky character in the background. There is a low floral alcohol aroma.

T: There is a blend of flavors matching the aroma just differing in intensity. The orange still dominates but the honey-like malt sweetness taken with coconut and vanilla from the oak and the light perfume-like, floral quality from the alcohol combine into a sort of adult candy thing, in the vain of how a black licorice or horehound isn't a kids candy. With a medium hops bitterness and a near equal sweetness the balance is about even, but the bitterness has a bit more staying power in the medium finish. The aftertaste is of orange and a slight orange peel bitterness with a light spice note.

M: A medium-full bodied beer with a strong level of carbonation.

O: A flavorful Belgian Tripel with a balanced oak character that compliments the beer and adds to the complex flavors.

The alcoholic aroma of the triple with wafts of bourbon wood (vanilla) and some mixed tropical fruit.

Very smooth with a mellow but stiff alcohol character, warming with undertones of vanilla and ripe fruit. The woody character melds well with the hop bitterness and spiciness of the alcohol with a drying bite.

Simply amazing. Amazing within the realm of barrel aged beer let alone doing it with a more delicate Belgian Style Trippel.

Look: Nice hazy golden yellow with a short white head that left good lacing

Smell: Sweet, Belgian yeasts that have been mellowed out a bit

Taste: Mellow Belgian yeasts, subtle bourbon and oak

Feel: Medium body, full crisp carbonation

Overall: Excellent tripel, however I wouldn't have guessed that it is barrel aged if I wasn't told. However, I think the barrel here mostly serves to mellow out some of the stronger flavors and bring harmony to everything. So maybe the barrel not being obvious is a good thing and shows some real benefit rather than a hot boozy mess that tastes like weak bourbon.

Had on tap at Sticks ans Stones tonight.Poured into a goblit a lightly hazed lighter golden with a nicely formed white head.Aromas are big in the bourbon barrel department with mild phenols and spiced pears,a nice mix of things going on.Sweet bourbon vanilla flavors along with more sweet alcohol,spiced phenols are there but kept in check pretty well,some boozy fruit in the finish.A nice barrel aged tripel not over the top bourbon wise but it packs a kick.

Huge vanilla/oak aroma is surprisingly balanced out by a luscious tropical fruit medley of lime, apricot, papaya, and an abundance of peach skin.

Smooth and warming feel with a bit of an alcohol bite/burn. Tropical fruit flavors are overwhelmed by the boozey/oaky/vanilla character. I find the barrel aging to be a detraction from an already solid, albeit delicate beer. Some spice and hop bitterness manages to shine through the booze.

Drinkability is destroyed by the barrel aging.

Not my cup of tea at all, but Im not that in to barrel aging of most beers.

A- Pours a crisp and clear orange fluid with active carbonation leading to a one inch head that falls to a thick froth leaving excellent patchy lacing.

S- Scents of fresh Belgian yeast upfront with grassy and citrus hops and light bourbon hints on the nose in alcohol fumes.

T-M- Taste is very tame for what I expected. Mild touches of Triple qualities of yeast, fresh citrusy hops, warming alcohol and very smooth and light bourbon flavors. At 11% I will say i'm amazed at the smooth mouthfeel from start to finish. Alcohol is hidden even at room temp. Wow. Light carbonation on the tongue allows this Triple to go down with a slight warming of the throat as it passes down to the belly.

D- Great beer hands down but for the price of 17.49 a 750Ml i'll most likely pass. Light bourbon notes compared to a regular barrel aged beer but with the mouthfeel and drinkablity of this one who gives a shit??? Cheers!

Fantastic 2-fingers or so of head sitting on top of a slightly hazy light golden yellow brew. Lots of active carbonation. Head retention was very good and lacing was strong almost all the way down the glass.

The aroma is the first hint of something different here - there is a nice hint of the bourbon-vanilla-oak thing, presumably from the barrel aging. It's complex with some other fruit aromas mingling in there as well.

Trips are a favorite of mine and I wasn't sure about messing with it, but I'm glad Allagash did because this was awesome. The notes of oak, vanilla, and the spice notes of the tripel are simply a great combination. There is definitely a warming from the alcohol content, especially on the finish.

Overall a great brew. I love the tripel style and I like Allagash's take on the style. Nice!

A very interesting beer. It poured a medium golden color with a little cloudiness to it and a small white head that lingered till the last sip. The smell right away was full of vanilla alchohol and bourbon. The taste was very unique. It started out like a tripple with a bit of frutiness and malt sweetness and then as you are about to swallow the oak barrel characteristics kick in. The vanilla sweetness comes around and finnishes with a very smoothe, Maker's Mark-esque flavor. After pouring the yeast from the bottle, the flavor had a little more sweetness an frutiness. I would suggest setting the bottle on the side for a bit and letting all the yeast mix in as it yields a more flaverfull beer imo. But it is defiantly recommedned nonetheless.

Shared this bottle with my dad this afternoon. Bottled September 2004. After struggling with the cork a bit it popped out nicely. The beer poured a wonderful bright golden color with a small bubbly white head. A touch cloudy with lots of active carbonation. Aromas of bountiful tropical fruit with a fresh yeastiness. Candy sweet scents meld into a warm bourbon undertone. Hints of vanilla and wood work their way into the simply lovely aroma. Each inhalation beckons me to take a sip.

Curieux brings a smooth, slightly creamy maltiness accented by a mix of tropical fruit flavors, coconut and vanilla. Midway through I get a nice yeastiness with a warming stream of bourbon. Finishes beautifully, a bit dry with a touch of lingering wood. An awesome barrel aged tripel, easily the best I've ever sampled. Delicately balanced with only a hint of alcohol and the perfect marriage of bourbon flavors from the barrel.

Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied. Goes down so easily and is actually quite refreshing. This is almost deceptively drinkable, at over 9% abv I could be in trouble before I know it with this one. A treat to drink, I'm sad this is my only bottle. Hopefully I will come across this beer again. Cheers to Allagash for creating a Jim Beam barrel aged work of art.